Meta Glasses challenge daily life with AI

A hands-on assessment shows the glasses offer convenience but trigger worries about data use and social impact.

Meta Glasses push AI wearables into daily life amid privacy concerns

Meta's AI glasses, made with Ray-Ban, retail for about £349 and let users call, text, and snap photos from the frames. Setup requires a companion app, and the camera feed isn’t visible on screen, which can make framing tricky. Photo quality falls short of smartphones, though Meta promises future features like holographic displays. The glasses support voice commands with Hey Meta and can play music privately without headphones. They also offer prescription options and a charging case that recharges the pair automatically when stored. The reviewer notes privacy concerns because the device could capture people in public with a single press. The article mentions Zuckerberg’s claim that this could mark the end of the smartphone era, a bold forecast that underscored how far wearables have come since earlier attempts.

Wearable AI is moving from gadget to daily tool, reshaping how people interact with technology. The shift raises questions about privacy, consent, and who controls the data captured on the street. Designers face a trade off between convenience and social norms, and regulators may soon test what is allowed in public spaces. The piece suggests a future where devices sit on the face and guide daily choices, but it also warns about overreliance and the risk of eroding serendipity in everyday life. This trend could redefine product markets, not just gadgets, pushing brands to prove real value beyond novelty.

Highlights

The glasses may become common, but society will decide how we balance benefit and privacy.